active sonar
Submarine sound detection
Active sonar emits sound pulses and listens for echoes bouncing off objects, allowing submarines and ships to detect underwater targets.
Unlike passive sonar, which only listens, active sonar reveals the user's position to others—a significant tactical tradeoff.
The distinctive ping of active sonar is iconic in submarine warfare films.
- hydrophoneSubmersible sound sensor
- transducerEnergy form converter
- pingBrief metallic tone
- sound waveOscillating pressure through medium
- sweepBrush clean with broom
echo · sonobuoy · frequency · Doppler effect · reverberation · transmitter · click · thermocline · blip · receiver · beep · submarine · range finding · target acquisition · warship · return · signal · contact
- submarine warfaresubmarine, submarines, torpedo, U-boat, depth charges
- sonarping, echolocation, hydrophone, echosounder, fishfinder
active sonarpassive sonar
Sound detection without emission
covert surveillance · stealth mode · emissions control · radio silence
active sonarradar
Radio-wave object detection
visual observation · thermal imaging · satellite surveillance